RHODODENDRON CHRYSANTHUM — GOLDEN-FLOWERED RHODODENDRON. 
Class X. DECANDRIA. Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, ERICEJ5. THE HEATH TRIBE. 
Figs, (a and 6) represent the capsule and its valves ; (c) a section of the same to show the cells. 
This beautiful shrub is a native of the mountains of Siberia, Kamtschatka, and Behring’s Island, flowering 
in June and July, and ripening its fruit- in September. It was introduced by Mr. Joseph Bush, in 1796, 
into our gardens, where it flowers, though rarely, in the middle of summer. In its native climes, it grows 
not only on the mountain tops, but on the banks of rivers. 
The stem in alpine situations seldom exceeds a foot in height ; in lower ground it grows to a foot and 
a half, sending off numerous decumbent spreading branches, having their ends emerging from the moss, and 
being covered with a brown bark. The leaves are terminal, few, ovate, oblong, of a coriaceous texture 
and attenuated towards the footstalk; the upper ones are reticulated, rugged, and of a deep green colour; 
the under pale or sub-ferruginous, very smooth, having the margin entire and bent inward. The flowers 
are large, yellow, and placed alternately at the ends of the branches on very long peduncles, forming sertula 
or simple umbels. They are usually six or fewer, but sometimes about ten, erect and hairy. The calyx is 
inferior, persistent, and divided into five deep teeth ; the corolla is pentasympetalous, nearly wheel-shaped, 
and divided into five rounded, nearly equal, spreading segments, the three upper ones being only a little 
larger than the other two, striated towards the tube, with livid dots ; the lower ones unspotted. The sta- 
mens are ten, equal, thread-shaped, declining, with incumbent, oblong anthers. The germen is pentagonal, 
bearing a long slender style, and terminated by a 5-lobed stigma. The testa adheres firmly to the nucleus ; 
the albumen is fleshy, the embryo cylindrical, in the axis of the albumen, and the radicle opposite the hilum. 
The capsule is ovate, somewhat angular, slightly curved, subton lentose, and divided into five or ten cells, 
which contain many small, grey, irregular seeds like saw-dust. 
Professor Pallas was the discoverer of this plant during his tour through Siberia ; and from his splendid 
work, we learn that the inhabitants of Siberia call the shrub sch6i or tea; and drink a weak infusion of it as 
a refreshing beverage, in the same way as we do that of the Chinese plant. 
It appears from Pallas’ account, that the Cossacks gather its leaves in September, when the capsules 
are ripe ; but it is then less bitter, and the whole plant is less flourishing than when in flower ; at which 
time he recommends it to be obtained for medicinal use. 
Qualities. — The leaves smell, when fresh, something like rhubarb ; when dried they are inodorous, 
but have an austere, bitterish taste, slightly resembling our common oak leaf. The decoction has a dis- 
agreeable odour, and a rough, bitter, acrid taste. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — This plant was first used as a narcotic and astringent application 
for heemorrhoidal fluxes ; but it was not till Gmelin and Steller had lauded its virtues, that it excited the 
notice of the medical world. It appears that the Siberians, on the banks of the river Lena, when overcome 
by fatigue and cold, apply a decoction of its leaves to their limbs, to relieve pain and induce sleep. They 
also exhibit it for rheumatic and other painful affections of the muscles and joints, in the following manner : 
they take about two drachms of the dried shrub, stalks, and leaves, which, with nine or ten ounces of boiling- 
water, they put into an earthen pot; lute on the head, and place it in an oven during the night. This in- 
fusion, for it is not allowed to boil, is drank the next morning for a dose. It occasions heat, together with a 
degree of intoxication, resembling the effects of spirituous liquors, and a singular kind of uneasy sensation 
in the limbs affected, accompanied by creeping sensations, which are likewise confined to the diseased parts. 
The patient is not permitted to quench the thirst which the medicine occasions; as fluids, particularly cold 
water, produce vomiting, whereby the power of the specific is lessened. In a few hours, all disagreeable 
effects disappear, commonly with two or three alvine evacuations. The patient then finds himself greatly 
